People powered, better, greener neighbourhoods.
We partner with change-makers to deliver programmes and services that tackle social challenges, regenerate nature, and create fairer, more balanced economic growth.
With over 20 years of experience, Real Ideas Nature and Neighbourhoods team support organisations and communities of all sizes, at every stage of their journey.
We can help if you are:
- Starting something new – helping you understand the change you want to make, the finances and feasibility of your idea.
- An established organisation – supporting you to test, develop or improve a new product or service, generate income, clarify your impact, sharpen your purpose, or deepen engagement with your community.
- A partnership or initiative – working with you on the development and delivery of larger-scale projects, place-based regeneration and neighbourhood transformation.
As specialists in community asset development, transition and economic development, community power, ownership and action are at the heart of everything we do. By building strong relationships, we work together to create lasting change.
Place-based & Regeneration.
We partner with communities to unlock their full potential, creating sustainable places that thrive for generations. Through collaborative approaches spanning grassroots initiatives to strategic policy work, we help transform neighborhoods, develop new towns, and support nature recovery. Our community-centered process ensures local voices actively shape what matters most, building social, environmental, and economic wealth that benefits everyone.
Discover how the State of Us conference united 120 UK community leaders in Plymouth to strengthen the movement for economic democracy through workshops, networking, and action-oriented discussions.
Discover how Sherford's 7,500-home new town is building community ownership from the ground up through a CLT, resident panels, and strategic partnerships shaping its future development.
See how 150 Keyham residents partnered with national conservation bodies to create a community-led nature restoration plan, improving local health and environmental resilience.
See how we supported 10 community businesses and launched 7 green enterprises in Plymouth, securing £322k and engaging 200 volunteers in community-led urban nature stewardship.
Learn how Forest Rising empowered 22 young people to shape Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest through habitat design, leadership development, and the creation of a Youth Board.
Discover how community engagement with 95 Exminster residents shaped planning for a new 2,000-home development, informing long-term community cohesion and development strategies.
Learn how Plymouth's Empowering Places programme delivered £1.25m investment, 25 jobs, and 15 asset transfers to empower community businesses in areas of high disadvantage from 2017-2021.
Our Work With Organisations
We partner with communities to unlock their full potential, creating sustainable places that thrive for generations. Through collaborative approaches spanning grassroots initiatives to strategic policy work, we help transform neighborhoods, develop new towns, and support nature recovery. Our community-centered process ensures local voices actively shape what matters most, building social, environmental, and economic wealth that benefits everyone.
Assessing voluntary visitor contributions in St Ives, Penzance, and Looe to fund community projects through tourism.
Supporting Trowbridge Town Hall Trust to secure £16m Future High Streets funding and create a vibrant community space.
Identifying innovative income streams and social enterprise models for vital South West transport infrastructure.
Heritage Lottery-funded feasibility plan for restoring historic Redoubt 4, part of Glenville Battery on the Rame Peninsula.
Historic fishing port in Cornwall developing a co-created plan for economic resilience and inclusive community growth.
Award-winning children's theatre company securing a sustainable future through business planning and investment strategy.
The Freshspring Trust preserves the historic SS Freshspring, using maritime heritage to inspire learning and skills development.
Heritage Development Trusts across the UK are bringing historic buildings back into community use, generating social and economic benefits f